Washington, D.C. -- Democrat Bill Owens was sworn into Congress on Friday with his grandchildren by his side, less than 72 hours after he won a fiercely-fought election for the 23rd Congressional District seat.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked Owens to raise his right hand and recite the oath of office on the House floor during a break in votes at 1:07 p.m.

While most of the House’s 434 other members looked on, Owens, 60, made his mark on history, becoming the first Democrat to represent a large chunk of Upstate’s North Country since Frances E. Spinner in 1857.

Owens, 60, received a rousing, standing ovation from Democratic House members. His granddaughter, Caroline Antonipillai, 5, and grandson, Thomas Antonipillai, 3, were by his side. Owens also was surrounded by most members of New York’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

Rep. Peter King, R-Long Island, now one of only two Republicans remaining in New York’s 29-member House delegation, added a light moment. He addressed Owens by saying, “Speaking for myself and the entire New York Republican delegation, I’d like to welcome you.”

Owens, an Air Force veteran who will represent a district that includes the Fort Drum Army base and its 10th Mountain Division, began his brief remarks by expressing sorrow over the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, on Thursday.

Owens also promised to get right to work – and immediately began voting Friday. He said he would vote for the Democratic-sponsored health care reform bill that could come up for a vote in the House on Saturday.

The Plattsburgh lawyer was later joined by his wife, Jane, three children and three grandchildren for a ceremonial swearing-in with Pelosi in the U.S. Capitol’s Rayburn Room.

“I’m ready to get work, as I promised my constituents,” Owens said. “I’m very interested in acting in an independent, bipartisan way, and I want to see the country and my district move forward.”

Owens had been invited to the White House for a private meeting in the afternoon with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office. But the meeting was postponed because of a series of late votes in the House.